Windows XP drivers.

I have xp on a DEll computer, nothing fancy and I am not a computer expert. My problem is that all of a sudden if I got a new phone, or camera, and tried to install them, the wizard could not find the driver, even with the cd in that came with them.( it would just search for ages)
I also noticed that I stopped getting any new updates from microsoft, when I went on the microsoft download site, the new updates never came through.
After finding BBS I saw Regcure and purchased it to see if that would fix my problem. As far as updates go from microsoft I now seem to get them every time I turn on now !!

But the driver problem remains the same. I told a friend who said it might be best to re install windows XP again, but to back up first.
He thought a good idea would be to get an external hard drive to back up all my stuff. I did I purchased a WD elements 640GB. But of course its the same problem, my computer cant find the driver, got on to WD they have said to down load drivers from microsoft, PLEASE HELP.

 

drivers for HDD? You don`t need them, unless you have a strange piece of hardware that involves a complete backup solution (software+hardware ) , in which case WD must provide the drivers ...

but as i know, and used, this solutions also come with USB connectors which don`t need any drivers at all ...

anyway, let`s try with a camera, ... or anything that is not recognized

first we read the manual ... where is says "DON~T CONNECT THE HARDWARE BEFORE INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE " ....

second - put the CD that came with the camera and run the SETUP or the AUTORUN ( which might start automatically )

third - when the setup show/tells - connect the camera

Now all should work perfect.

............

If you go with the "other way" connecting the device first,... most of the time you`ll get strange things because Windows Xp has a default drivers that might interfere with the new hardware... if is recognized incorrectly .

But, even ... if is not recognized correctly , or not recognized at all ( if it asks for drivers is not recognized at all ) , you should be able to select NEXT, ADVANCE , select the option "LOOK ON CD" ( search CD or something ) - NEXT - NEXT - FINISH ....

hope it helps

if not, please return with a specific camera/model and the errors that appeared on the screen

 

Thank you for your reply, have done all the things you mention with camera etc. in the past but to no avail.
I have a dell lap top computer also running xp, which I can put the software on for camera, phone etc. with no probs.

 

try again, post as i said exactly the step where you fail, and what does it return

also, be suire to read the manul about installation before, and follow that manual first...